Stories from Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Collector will be open Dec. 31(12/20/11)BENTON -- Scott County taxpayers have until noon on the last day of the year to pay their taxes in person. Mark Hensley, collector, said he will come in at 8 a.m. on Dec. 31 and keep his office open until noon. "That's on a Saturday," Hensley said. "That is the last day to pay taxes without a penalty."...

County's 911 meeting with city was "productive"(12/20/11)scottw@standard-democrat.com BENTON -- The Scott County Commission's meeting with the Sikeston CIty Council to discuss consolidating 911 services was a good first step but there is still a lot to do. Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger described Monday's meeting as "very productive" during the regular County Commission meeting Tuesday...

Route B in Mississippi County reduced for drainage repairs(12/20/11)SIKESTON - Route B in Mississippi County will be reduced to one lane while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform drainage repairs. The section of roadway is located from Route 80 to County Road 434. Weather permitting, traffic will be reduced to one lane from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday...

Nearly 100 pounds of pot seized in stop(12/20/11)CARUTHERSVILLE -- A routine traffic stop led to the discovery of nearly 100 pounds of marijuana Monday in Pemiscot County. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol, at 11 a.m. Monday, a member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol stopped the vehicle driven by Shontai E. Charity, 27, of Houston, Texas...

Signs of change(12/20/11)scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Public safety officials have come up with a way to transition to a new outdoor emergency warning system. During a special meeting Monday, the Sikeston City Council approved the purchase of two new outdoor warning sirens from the low bidder, Outdoor Warning Consulting of Jefferson City...

County, city team together to explore 911 service(12/20/11)scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Representatives from the city of Sikeston and Scott County will form a committee to negotiate the county contracting with the city for 911 dispatching services. Local officials have long talked about consolidating 911 dispatching services, Jamie Burger, Scott County's presiding county commissioner, said during a special joint session Monday...

Semifinals set(12/20/11)sports@standard-democrat.com BROSELEY -- Haunted by a rough second quarter on Monday, Sikeston saw New Madrid County Central pull out an 18-point halftime lead before holding on for a 63-48 win in the quarterfinals of the Lady Royals Christmas Classic at Twin Rivers High School...

Top-seed Dexter blisters Donettes(12/20/11)sports@standard-democrat.com BROSELEY -- Holding Doniphan scoreless for nearly the entire first quarter, top-seeded Dexter strolled to an easy 78-22 win on Monday to advance to the semifinals of the Lady Royals Christmas Classic Tournament. "I forget what the stats were for field goal percentage, but I think we shot around 57 percent and held them (in the 20s)," Dexter head coach Chad Allen said. "Our girls did a tremendous job defensively tonight...

Gladys Simmons (12/20/11)MATTHEWS -- Gladys P. Simmons, 89, died at 8 p.m. Dec. 18, 2011, in the Charleston Manor. Born March 6, 1922, in New Madrid County, to the late Jessie Dalton and Dovie Jane Wood Douglas, Gladys lived in New Madrid County all of her life. She was a member of the Full Gospel Church in East Prairie...

Marshall Linebaugh(12/20/11)DIEHLSTADT -- Marshall Linebaugh, 86, died Dec. 19, 2011, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Feb. 13, 1925, in Blodgett, to the late Samuel Thomas and Mina Jerrel Brooks Linebaugh, he had lived in Charleston and the surrounding area his entire life. He owned and operated Linebaugh's Garage in Charleston for 40 years until his retirement and was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church in Diehlstadt. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served during World War II...

Tommy Miller Sr.(12/20/11)PORTAGEVILLE -- Tommy R. Miller Sr., 73, died Dec. 18, 2011, at his home in Portageville. Born Sept. 14, 1938, in San Antonio, to the late E.T. Miller and Hazel Miller, he was a member of the First Church of God where he had been a Sunday school teacher since 1959, music and worship leader since 1965 and a youth leader from 1964-1978. In 1962, he began working for Portageville Parts Inc...

Darlene Scott(12/20/11)EAST PRAIRIE -- Darlene Michelle Hopper Scott, 50, died Dec. 18, 2011, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Sept. 22, 1961, at Sikeston, to John "Dugan" and Zallie Slayden "Sue" Hopper, she was a 1979 graduate of Charleston High School and had been employed as a rural mail carrier for the East Prairie Post Office until ill health forced her retirement. She was a member of the Eagles Club at New Madrid and of the Full Gospel Church in East Prairie...

Raymona Duke(12/20/11)CHAFFEE -- Raymona Elizabeth Duke, 52, died Dec. 19, 2011, at her home. Born Oct. 2, 1952, in Belleville, Ill., to Velma Carroll Duke and Raymond Duke of Bloomfield, she was a homemaker. She married Ronnie Mouser who survives of the home. In addition to her husband and parents, survivors include: one son, Raymond Snyder of Nashville, Tenn.; one daughter, Elizabeth Tompkins of Wicks, Ark.; two brothers, Ray Duke of Dexter and Louis Duke of Puxico; and two grandchildren...